Integrated Tissue Mould for Dehydration and Embedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for preparing tissue material for histological or pathological testing are labor-intensive and prone to tissue damage and misorientation, with risks of undesirable section thickness variations and contamination during the pretreatment and embedding processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that integrate pretreatment and embedding of tissue material within a single device, using a mould and enclosing element assembly that allows for sequential liquid permeation and orientation adjustments, enabling efficient water extraction and matrix material embedding without the need for separate containers, thereby reducing labor and minimizing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If tissue material is placed in a separate container for pretreatment and then transferred to a separate mould for embedding, then the pretreatment and embedding can be performed separately, but the process becomes labor-intensive and the tissue material is at risk of damage and misorientation during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pretreatment container and embedding mould into a single integrated device. The tissue material remains in the same container throughout both pretreatment (with alcohol) and embedding (with paraffin) processes, eliminating the need for transfer between separate containers and thus preventing damage and misorientation while simplifying the overall process
2Productivity
If tissue material is removed from the container and placed in a mould, then embedding can be performed, but the risk of tissue material exchange and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the pretreatment and embedding functions into a single container system, the patent eliminates the transfer step that causes contamination and misidentification risks. The tissue material stays in the same container throughout the entire process, ensuring its identity is maintained and contamination is prevented
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate devices are used for pretreatment and embedding, then each process can be optimized independently, but the overall process time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges pretreatment and embedding into a single integrated device that can perform both functions sequentially without requiring tissue transfer. This reduces total processing time and labor while maintaining the ability to optimize each process step independently within the integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device enables continuous processing where pretreatment and embedding occur in sequence without interruption or transfer of the tissue material. The liquid can flow continuously through the tissue material from pretreatment to embedding, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous useful action throughout the process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This integrated approach reduces the risk of tissue damage and misorientation, enhances the reliability of tissue sectioning, and streamlines the pretreatment and embedding process, improving the consistency and accuracy of tissue analysis.
Implementation Method 1
guiding the tissue material placed in the receiving space at least through a hydrophilic liquid such as an alcohol solution held within the liquid container of the device, wherein water is extracted from the tissue material
Data Source
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Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for preparing tissue material. The method comprises placing a quantity of tissue material in a closable but liquid-permeable assembly of a mould and enclosing element, enclosing the tissue material, guiding the tissue material placed in the receiving space at least through a hydrophilic liquid such as an alcohol solution, wherein water is extracted from the tissue material; and embedding the tissue material placed in the receiving space by at least partially filling the receiving space with a matrix material; wherein the assembly of mould and enclosing element has an orientation relative to a reference direction, and the orientation in one treatment step differs from the orientation in another treatment step. The invention also relates to a device and mould for performing the method.